The Detroit Lions are still deciding whether to keep injured safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch on the physically unable to perform list with the cut to a 53-man roster due this weekend.
Lions
coach Dan Campbell said before the final practice of training camp Thursday, Aug. 27, that he and general manager Brad Holmes would meet later in the day to begin mapping out the roster for the regular season.Joseph and Branch have been on PUP and have not practiced all summer, and Joseph remains away from the team dealing with a personal matter.
But Campbell said "both of those guys are doing well right now," and he said at the start of camp both could return early in the season. Neither player is expected to be ready for the season opener Sept. 13
against the New Orleans Saints.
"Brad and I will discuss [the plans for Joseph and Branch] over the next, call it three or four days here," Campbell said. "We’re going to start kind of meeting this afternoon after all this and start going through it. And so I’m not going to be able to give you a definitive answer right now."
Branch tore the Achilles tendon in his right leg last Dec. 4, while Joseph is returning from a chronic knee injury that kept him out the final 11 games of last season.
Chuck Clark and Avonte Maddox have handled most of the first-team reps at safety this summer, and the Lions also are dealing with injuries to backup safeties Thomas Harper (ankle) and Christian Izien (leg).
Players who start the season on PUP must sit out at least the first four games, which means the earliest Branch or Joseph could return if they start the year on PUP is Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Lions have a Week 6 bye.
Campbell said he still does not have a definitive timetable on the return of center Cade Mays from a wrist injury, and he said running back Isiah Pacheco is dealing with a back injury. Pacheco has not practiced since spraining his knee early in camp, but Campbell said "the knee is not the concern" right now.
"He’s another one, I can’t give you anything definitive," Campbell said. "He is feeling better as of yesterday. I mean, it’s been a little touch and go right now, he’s had a little bit of a back. And we’re hoping he’s coming out of this as of yesterday a little bit."
Defensive end Ahmed Hassanein will miss his second straight practice Thursday with an undisclosed injury but is "trending right," Campbell said. And rookie defensive end Derrick Moore could return next week from the injury that will keep him out of practice a second straight day Thursday.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph on PUP? Lions still debating that move
